George's homestead was about 1/2 mile north of the stever cemetery, where he was living at the time of his death. He homesteaded 120 acres in 1857, with the grant maturing in 1877. The grant was signed by Rutherford B. Hayes, President of the United States. In 1852, George purchased forty acres from Emsley Wharton. Sarah Stever Miller, George's granddaughter tells us that she has the original papers.

On May 28, 1863, George was plowing the farm of his mother south of the cemetery when he was shot and killed by "bushwhackers".Bushwhackers were people who sided with either the Union or Confederacy but were not in either army. They were a dispictable lot to the local residents and known to take advantage of the war to further their own interests. The family thought the shooting was due to the fact that George had hauled some supplies for the Confederate Army for hire.

Left with a large family, the widow, Hester Ann, continued to operate the farm and care for her family. After George's death, the Union soldiers took all the meat that Hester had for the family table.

The family has passed to the younger generation the names of those suspected of shooting George. When Peter and James Madison returned to Missouri, after the war, two of the "suspects" left the community. We will not list the names here.

Our uncle, James Benton Stever, told us of the incident. He could remember it well. He was at that time living with grandmother, Sarah Payton Stever. Someone heard the shot from the gun. Then, shortly the horse came to the house dragging the plow. Some of the family, probably James Madison, went looking for George. When the report of his having been shot was brought to his mother, Sarah, James Benton told of his remembering how she wept and mourned.

The Civil War was a most trying time for the Stever family, as it was for many persons in that area. We find among the old letters this brief note, which gives some insight into the times.

Likely this note was to James Madison Stever, who was in Illinois, since it was among his letters. There is no signature or name on the note.

In a letter January 1, 1864, to James Madison Stever from his mother and sister, Margaret, they mention the great fire of November 1863. Twenty-three homes had been burned. Then Sarah, his mother, talks of how hard times are and there was nothing to be had, money or not.

Franklin Stever served in the Union Army during the Civil War, Co. M., 16th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, Volunteers. He was mustered in Nov. 1, 1863 and mustered out, July 1, 1865. Both actions were at Springfield, Missouri. He furnished his own horse until April 15, 1865.

Franklin was known to the family as "Big" Frank Stever. His military papers give his height as five feet and two inches! So, the "Big" Frank was likely a nick-name, due to his short stature.

Franklin first married Caroline Williams, June 17, 1865. Caroline died March 3, 1908. There were no children. She is buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Dallas Co., Mo..

February 13, 1910, Franklin married Mrs. Sarah A. Bradbury. To this union one son, Lee Anderson Stever, was born, June 16,1912. In 1925, Sarah filed for and received a government pension for Lee due to injuries he had sustained as a small boy. They were last known to be in Central Point, Oregon. Our efforts to contact Lee have been fruitless.

Franklin died at LaCygne, Kansas, where he lived with his family and was buried in Stever Cemetery.

Sally Ann Stever married William York Knighten, March 11, 1878. She was Knighten's second wife. She died in 1894 and was buried in Stever Cemetery. Her children were Minnie, Bogie, F. Winton and Bertram. Minnie married William Albert Williams and reared her family in the area of Buffalo, Missouri, where some of her descendants now live. Bogie died at age 20 and is buried in Knighten Cemetery by his father. Winton and Bertram migrated to Springfield, Missouri. Winton's children died young. The only living descendant of Bertram lives in California.

James Wesley Stever married Mrs. Sarah C. (Rogers) Dooley. He reared his family in southern Dallas Co., later migrating to Springfield, Mo., where he and several of his family are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery.

Mary Luiza Stever married Charles H. (Shug) Amos. She died in 1882, and was buried in the Stever Cemetery. She and Amos had only one child, Charles. We have been unable to learn anything about this family.

Tene Drusilla Stever married John Cline. She died in 1940 and is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Dallas Co., Missouri. She and John had a large family, which they reared in the area east and north of Charity, Mo.. Many of their descendants still live in Dallas Co..

Henry Monroe Stever settled on his father's farm, where he lived out his days. He was a hard working frugal man, close with his finances, but honest. He married Mary Ann Mallard, and they reared four children. Their descendants are in California and Missouri.

Martin Van Buren Stever was killed by a team of runaway mules at age fourteen. He is buried in the Stever Cemetery.

Delilia Caroline Stever married John Noe. They had one son, Erastus. We know little about this family.

Richard Calhoun Stever never married. He lived on twenty acres north and east of the Stever Cemetery. He was known for his ability to with the violin and as a teller of tall tales. It is reported that he collected the gold that the merchants in Elkland aquired and then hid it on his land. There are a number of stories about "buried treasures". On one occasion, it is reported, he had a well drilled on his property. At the completion of the work he ascertained from the driller the amount of the charges, went into the woods and returned with the cash to satisfy the claim. Numbers of people have searched the twenty acres seeking "buried treasure". Did someone find anything? Who knows? The probate record of his estate was very meager. In his older years the Cline family, his sister's children, cared for him. He is buried in the Bethel Cemetery, Dallas Co., Mo..

Amanda Angeline Stever married H. B. R. Pettit. She was his second wife. Both she and her husband are buried in the Stever Cemetery. Mr. Pettit was an ordained Baptist minister. The Pettits reared a large family about two miles north of the Stever Cemetery. Many of their descendants are still living in the area.